townie

noun

town·​ie ˈtau̇-nē How to pronounce townie (audio)
variants or less commonly towny
plural townies
informal
: a native or resident of a town
especially : a permanent inhabitant of a town as distinguished from a member of another group (such as the academic community)
Every Yooper I've ever met was an uncommonly unique character – a real salt-of-the-earth townie skilled at mechanics, deer hunting, and/or ice fishing. Kelly O
… a question every intelligent and ambitious townie one day must confront: should I stay or leave? Ben Yagoda
often used before another noun
This old school townie bar is located just off of Main Street on the outskirts of town … and it's the sort of place that I'd imagine has a regular clientele of locals who drop by on a daily basis for a shot and a beer. Lori Fredrich

Examples of townie in a Sentence

fights between townies and college kids the townies are dismayed that all the venerable manses around the village green are being bought as vacation homes by rich interlopers
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
All of the standard tropes are set up—the weird old townie who tries to warn the kids off, a creepy old basement filled with bizarre and ominous paraphernalia, etc.—though maybe they’re set up just a little too perfectly. Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 25 Oct. 2024 After enjoying what seems to be only minutes of the dance — likely not even long enough for an unruly townie to spike the prom punch — Karl must ditch his date in the middle of the soiree in order to pursue his latest murder investigation. Claire Franken, TVLine, 1 Oct. 2024 With Richard Gere 45 Years After ‘American Gigolo’ – Cannes The 1982 pic starred Richard Gere, Debra Winger and Louis Gossett Jr. and follows a loner who sets out to finish his Navy Officer training while dealing with a tough-as-nails drill sergeant while also finding love with a local townie. Justin Kroll, Deadline, 14 June 2024 Dine & spa Subsequent newcomers include The Kiosk, a café that pulls in townies with an unbeatable beachfront location where diners tuck into egg-and-bacon rolls, acai bowls, and perfectly textured flat whites at picnic tables under nautical parasols. Chloe Sachdev, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for townie 

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of townie was in 1823

Dictionary Entries Near townie

Cite this Entry

“Townie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/townie. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

townie

noun
town·​ie ˈtau̇-nē How to pronounce townie (audio)
informal
: a permanent resident of a town
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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